Pennywise Dreadful: The Journal of Stephen King Studies

Alan and Dawn talk about the 3rd of the novella's in the Four Past Midnight Collection, The Library Policeman. EXPLICIT REFERENCES TO CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THIS RECORDING Rights to the music introduction remain the property of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Alan and Dawn take a very laid back approach to King's Secret Window, Secret Garden. Music remains the property of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Photography the right of Pennywise Dreadful Advertisement for 50 Shades of Grey read by Gilbert Gottfried is external and Pennywise Dreadful has no rights to this content.

Alan and Dawn socially distance their coffee meeting to discuss the Langoliers, the first in the Four Past Midnight Collection. Music, as always remains the right of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Dawn and Alan enjoy virtual soft drinks whist Dawn tries very hard to make her brain work in this discussion about The Dark Half.

Dawn and Alan maintain social distance and discuss The Tommyknockers, King's first novel foray into the realm of Science Fiction. Music remains the copyright of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

AT LAST! Dawn and Alan have a virtual mug of coffee together after what seems like forever to talk about Stephen King's It. During the discussion we get confused about Pennywise's gender pronouns and how to refer to him/her/it, as well as our usual meandering discussion.

Dawn and Alan meet for coffee and discuss Misery. As usual, the discussion covers many things, including Dawn's appeal to the OED to include a new word - but mostly the pair manage to stay on topic! All musical rights remain the property of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and photography to Dawn Stobbart.

Dawn and Alan meet for coffee and chat about the second novel in the Dark Tower cycle, The Drawing of the Three. They are joined by Dr Rachel Gregory Fox - who also reveals a very large secret... The Fresh Prince of Bel Air remains the property of the writer and performer. Title music remains the property of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Photography is the copyright of Pennywise Dreadful.

Dawn and Alan grab a coffee and discuss King's fantasy novel, The Eyes of the Dragon. Minor Spoilers for Game of Throne's Season 8, just in case... All music remains the property of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and Photographic rights belong to me.

Alan and Dawn meet for coffee and discuss Pet Semetary, a novel Dawn found particularly disturbing. Musical rights remain the property of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and image rights the property of Dawn Stobbart.

Alan and Dawn have a VERY relaxed evening chat about The Talisman, the first collaboration in King's work. AND they manage to (just about) stick to the point this time! The Logo for Pennywise Dreadful is the Property of Dawn Stobbart Musical Rights are the Property of the London Philharmonic Orchestrea.

Alan and Dawn embrace modern technology to discuss Cycle of the Werewolf with special guest Craig Ian Mann over VOIP, rather than meeting for coffee. As is customary, the conversation meanders wildly and a relaxed conversation ensues. All musical right remain the property of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Dawn and Alan are joined via Skype by Dr Simon Brown, of Kingston University to discuss Christine, the most famous Plymouth Fury of them all. Unusually, the pair manage to stay on topic (mostly)! Opening credits belong to Columbia pictures, and closing credits to the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Don't forget to like and review on iTunes, or your favourite podcast provider.

Alan and Dawn finish their discussion of Different Seasons with Dr Jenn Ashworth and Dr Andrew Tate on Different Seasons, and all of us here at Dreadful Towers would like to wish Alan, and his amazing new wife, Dr Rachel Fox a long and happy marriage! All music rights belong to the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Dawn and Alan are joined by noted academics and friends Jenn Ashworth and Andrew Tate, both of Lancaster University to chat about Different Seasons and the four novellas Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, The Body, Apt Pupil, and Breathing Method. All music is the copyright of the London Philharmonic Orchestra,

Dawn and Alan meet for coffee, and talk about the short story, Laurie. As is now customary, the conversation varies widely - and this time includes the film Convoy! Music is copyright of CW McCall (Convoy) and title music is copyright of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Dawn drags Alan from his sickbed, with the promise of white Kitkat bites to accompany the usual coffee, to talk about the first in the Dark Tower Cycle, the Gunslinger. As is customary, the conversation veers wildly, and includes female sexualisation and religion.

Dawn and Alan once again meet for coffee and discuss the latest in teh Great King reread - The Running Man, and its filmic adaptation. As is usual the conversation meanders through politics, videogames, masculinity, and Dawn makes a HUGE error with a character's name! Special thanks this month to Stephen Curtis for his silent prompts, and as always, the title music remains the copyright of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Alan and Dawn meet for coffee to discuss Cujo, and as is becoming usual, the conversation overs a multitude of topics including the arrival of Friends on Netflix, and Dawn has a confession! Music remains the property of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Dawn and Alan gather at the kitchen table to discuss the Richard Bachman novel Roadwork, one of King's lesser-known pieces. As part of the discussion, there is an exploration of the depression and suicide of the novel's protagonist, as well as the usual meandering across many only tangentially related points. The first issue of our journal is available for free download here: https://pennywisedreadful.wordpress.com/issues/ and our call for articles for the second issue: https://pennywisedreadful.wordpress.com/call-for-papers/ End music is copyright of the London Symphony Orchestra, and all rights belong to them.

Dawn is joined by special guests Robin Furth, Alan, and Simon Brown to discuss all things King, but especially The Dark Tower, including asking Robin if she is Randall Flagg! As this is a live event, some speakers appear quieter than others.

Alan and Dawn brew the coffee and discuss Stephen King's first novel of the 1980's - Firestarter, the story of Charlie McGee and her father Andy. The discussion includes the parental relationship, and the way that this book resonates with King's other fiction.

Alan and Dawn meet for coffee, and discuss The Dead Zone. Along hte way they talk about the ethics of relationships, US politics in 2017, waking from a coma, and whether killing Hitler before World War 2 would be a good idea.

Dawn and Alan discuss Stephen King's The Long Walk over coffee. Along the way they talk about masculinity, friendship, the writing process, and Dawn has a rant about feminism and Doctor Who... Music is the copyright of the London Philharmonic, who we are grateful to, for it is amazing!

This month, Dawn and Alan are joined by Dr. Andrew Tate and Dr Jenn Ashworth to discuss Stephen King's epic tale of the destruction of the world - The Stand. Dr Andrew Tate's research focuses on the intersections between literature, theology and aesthetics. He has two primary historical interests: nineteenth-century writing and its relationship with theological debates and contemporary fiction in relation to the sacred. Recent published work in this field includes journal articles on Ruskin and the Psalms and a book chapter on Decadence and the Bible. He co-chairs the Ruskin Research Seminar and contribute to the Gladstone Centre's regular colloquia and conference programme. My next Victorian project will develop my previous work on the Psalms with reference to Hopkins, Tennyson and Dickens. Two of my books, Contemporary Fiction and Christianity (Continuum, 2008) and, co-authored with Arthur Bradley, The New Atheist Novel (Continuum, 2010) have focused on late twentieth-century and early twenty-first century narratives. He edited a special double issue of The Year Book of English Studies on religion and literature (2009) and co-edited Literature and the Bible: a Reader (Routledge, 2013). He has recently published a monograph on Twenty-First Century Apocalyptic Fiction and is working on another on the figure of Jesus/Christ in post-millennial narrative. Dr Jenn Ashworth's main areas of interest are long prose fiction and the short story. Her recent work has concentrated on the unreliable or limited narrator and on LDS fiction. She have recently completed a novel in the first person omniscient point of view that engages with ideas about healing, transformation, haunting and masculinity. New areas of interest include gaming and interactivity, digital storytelling projects and narrative and new media more generally. She is also interested in writing industries and new routes into publication for writers, collaborative work, and the way writers and other creative practitioners work together. With this in mind, in 2013 she co-founded the writers' and artists' collective, Curious Tales, which allows practitioners to work together to create, produce and deliver creative works. So far they have published the illustrated anthologies: The Longest Night: Five Curious Tales, Poor Souls' Light: Seven Curious Tales, Bus Station Unbound, The Barrow Rapture and Congregation of Innocents: Five Curious Tales. She recently published the Fell, set on the Lancashire coast. Title music is copyright of the London Symphonic Orchestra. Baby Can You Dig Your Man comes from the mini series of The Stand, and Jungleland is the property of Bruce Springsteen.

Dawn and Alan sit down with coffee and try to navigate the world of Stephen King's Night Shift. Along the way they mention Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, murderers, quitting smoking, and many King novels that have not been discussed yet!

Alan and Dawn discuss Stephen King's first short story collection, with references along the way including Monsters Inc, and many deviations from the Path to include other King fiction (as usual). Music is the copyright of the London Symphony Orchestra.

Dawn And Alan discuss Stephen King's novel Rage. The discussion around the kitchen table, complete with coffee, encompasses American Psycho, Fight Club, masculinity, and avoids all mentions of international politics!

Alan and Dawn are joined by author of Fell, and creative writing teacher Dr. Jenn Ashworth, as they discuss one of Stephen Kings most famous novels: The Shining. Theme music copyright of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Alan and Dawn talk about Stephen King's vampire novel, as well as religion, Simon and Garfunkel, and avoid mentioning politics along the way. Music copyright of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Pennywise Dreadful Presents: Stephen King's Carrie. For our first foray into the Stephen King world, we begin with King's first novel. We are joined by Dr Stephen King, an expert on Blood to consider the novel.